Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Meilen Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Meilen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,164 per month in Geneva vs $3,525 in Meilen, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,467 per month in Geneva vs $5,499 in Meilen, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,770 per month in Geneva vs $7,473 in Meilen, rent included.

Geneva costs about 18% more than Meilen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Geneva and Meilen sit above the global median – Geneva by 210%, Meilen by 162%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$36.87 CHF 29.27

$31.08 CHF 24.67

18.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 CHF 115

-0.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.57 CHF 14.74

$18.50 CHF 14.69

0.38%

Cappuccino

$6.02 CHF 4.78

$6.37 CHF 5.06

-5.49%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.34 CHF 4.24

$5.87 CHF 4.66

-9.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 CHF 3.86

$5.13 CHF 4.07

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.58 CHF 7.61

$8.38 CHF 6.65

14.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.36 CHF 6.64

$7.27 CHF 5.77

14.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 CHF 1.75

$2.31 CHF 1.83

-4.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.94 CHF 3.13

$3.29 CHF 2.61

19.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 CHF 3.40

$4.05 CHF 3.21

5.68%

Eggs

$7.50 CHF 5.95

$7.53 CHF 5.98

-0.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.37 CHF 21.73

$29.71 CHF 23.58

-7.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.50 CHF 25.80

$33.41 CHF 26.52

-2.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$53.2 CHF 42.21

$50.4 CHF 40.01

5.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 CHF 2.76

$4.23 CHF 3.36

-17.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 CHF 2.02

$2.41 CHF 1.91

5.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 CHF 2.47

$2.99 CHF 2.37

4.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.20 CHF 4.92

$5.18 CHF 4.11

19.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 CHF 2.09

$2.51 CHF 1.99

4.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 CHF 1.85

$2.24 CHF 1.78

4.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 CHF 1.97

$2.51 CHF 1.99

-1.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 CHF 1.06

$1.13 CHF 0.90

18.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.96 CHF 8.70

$11.01 CHF 8.74

-0.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 CHF 9.88

$15.27 CHF 12.12

-18.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.21 CHF 2.55

$2.16 CHF 1.71

48.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 CHF 2.99

$2.29 CHF 1.82

64.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.81 CHF 3.02

$3.83 CHF 3.04

-0.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.1 CHF 68.3

$96.8 CHF 76.8

-11.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.68 CHF 6.10

$6.63 CHF 5.26

15.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.64 CHF 2.89

$4.11 CHF 3.26

-11.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$63.9 CHF 50.8

$81.5 CHF 64.7

-21.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.28 CHF 1.81

$2.24 CHF 1.78

1.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$40.8K CHF 32.4K

$39.6K CHF 31.4K

2.90%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$49.7K CHF 39.5K

$38.9K CHF 30.9K

27.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$259 CHF 205

$256 CHF 203

1.23%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$48.72 CHF 38.68

$58.4 CHF 46.34

-16.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 CHF 49.56

$58.8 CHF 46.71

6.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.4 CHF 63.8

$88.9 CHF 70.5

-9.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.17 CHF 28.71

$64.7 CHF 51.4

-44.10%

Cinema Ticket

$24.70 CHF 19.61

$27.31 CHF 21.68

-9.56%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,414 CHF 2,710

$2,795 CHF 2,219

22.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.7K CHF 25.9K

$40.1K CHF 31.8K

-18.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$136 CHF 108

$140 CHF 111

-2.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$80.2 CHF 63.6

$61.6 CHF 48.92

30.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$166 CHF 132

$147 CHF 116

13.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$207 CHF 165

$205 CHF 163

0.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,339 CHF 1,857

$1,728 CHF 1,372

35.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,018 CHF 1,602

$1,468 CHF 1,165

37.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,705 CHF 3,735

$2,884 CHF 2,290

63.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,900 CHF 3,096

$2,465 CHF 1,957

58.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.1K CHF 18.3K

$24.8K CHF 19.7K

-6.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.5K CHF 13.1K

$11.9K CHF 9,462

38.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,654 CHF 6,076

$8,694 CHF 6,902

-11.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.46

2.09

17.70%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Geneva: June 7, 2026

Last update for Meilen: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,339 in Geneva versus $1,728 in Meilen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 14% higher in Meilen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $145 in Geneva versus $145 in Meilen. Groceries tell a different story – $676 in Geneva vs $665 in Meilen – so Meilen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Geneva vs Meilen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,245 per month in Geneva and $5,287 in Meilen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Meilen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Geneva, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $145 in Geneva and $145 in Meilen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,164 in Geneva and $3,525 in Meilen. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Meilen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Meilen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Geneva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.